BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football running back Ajay Allen has been named a preseason candidate for the 2026 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.
The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's most outstanding college running back. The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back, Doak Walker, and each Tuesday of the upcoming season the PwC SMU Athletic Forum will announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week.
Allen enters his first season at WKU in 2026 after transferring from Tulsa. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound native of Monroe, Louisiana, has already received preseason recognition, earning spots on the 2026 Athlon Sports Preseason All Conference USA Second Team and the 2026 Phil Steele Preseason CUSA All-Conference Second Team.
Allen joins the Hilltoppers after spending one season at Tulsa, where he played in all 12 games for the Golden Hurricane. He recorded 497 yards and a team-high five rushing touchdowns on 97 attempts, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He also posted 10 catches for 98 yards. He twice rushed for over 100 yards – at FAU and against UAB.
He transferred to Tulsa after spending the 2025 spring at FIU. Prior to FIU, Allen spent the 2023-24 seasons at Miami and the 2022 season at Nebraska. Over those three seasons, he appeared in 21 games with 734 yards and nine touchdowns on 127 carries. During the 2024 season, he rushed for 183 yards and two scores on 24 carries in eight games for the Hurricanes, and the year prior, he played in eight games with one start, rushing for 350 yards on 67 carries with five touchdowns. As a true freshman in 2022, he played in Nebraska's first four games before suffering a season-ending injury. He rushed 33 times for 190 yards and two touchdowns for the Huskers.
Allen is one of 62 players included on the watch list, and one of four from Conference USA.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 10, 2026.
WKU is scheduled to open the 2026 season at Nevada on Sept. 5. Kickoff at Mackay Stadium is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
It is not too late to purchase tickets for 2026 WKU Football home games. Season tickets start as low as $50, and there are several options for different season ticket levels. For more information or to purchase 2026 WKU Football season tickets, click HERE. Fans can purchase 2026 WKU Football single game tickets HERE and away game tickets HERE. Are you interested in purchasing 2026 WKU Football tickets but don't know where to start? Fill out this form and a member of the WKU Ticket Office will be in touch soon! All season tickets require an HAF donation.
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